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July 1, 2016

After I got engaged and was thinking of which girls I wanted to surround me on my wedding day, I immediately knew which ladies I wanted to ask to be my bridesmaids. I also knew I wanted to do something sweet and special to pop the question. I decided to put a box together of some of my favorite things (hello, champs and macarons!) and wrap it with elegant, feminine gift wrap. The personalized bridesmaid cards were the icing on the cake to these sweet gifts (Etsy, you are amazing). I popped the question at our engagement party and the girls were happily surprised. One of my bridesmaids lives abroad in Europe, and since I couldn't hand deliver the gift box, to ask her I sent her a card and a monogramed necklace.This bridesmaid box is really a blank canvas for all brides to be creative. Theres so many gift options and fun ways to personalize the box, such as adding a theme like "pamper yourself" or color coordinating the box with your wedding color palette. The options are endless!

February 4, 2016

Since the Superbowl is upon us, I thought it'd be only fitting to have a post reflecting a perfect game-day eat: stuffed jalapeños. If we're being honest here, one of the main reasons I like attending Superbowl bashes is for the food (the other reasons? Halftime and commercials). I mean, a day where the norm is to nosh on a smorgasbord of (basically) bar-type foods? Count me in. These stuffed jalapeños are, in my opinion, the perfect game-day grub to snack on. Stuffed with sweet Italian sausage, goat cheese and parmesan, the creamy and hearty filling is a fantastic contrast to the crunch of the jalapeño and crispy Panko topping. I hope you guys enjoy these!

January 8, 2016

If you've visited my Pinterest board, you might have figured out that I'm a slight Pinterest fanatic. Ever since K and I have moved into our new place, I've been pinning home decor like nobody's business. I purchased a few Ikea pieces when we moved in because they are great blank canvases for changing and giving makeovers (the "Ikea hack" phenomenon is real). Have you heard of O'verlays? I've had my eye on them for quite some time - 'Overlays are decorative fretwork panels for furniture. Simply apply the panels to your furniture and watch your piece go from ho-hum to one-of-a-kind. They also make panels specifically for Ikea furniture, which makes it so easy to transform an inexpensive piece of furniture into a truly unique and expensive-looking piece.

January 6, 2016

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm back after a seriously long hiatus. No excuses, but the last year was so busy: lots of traveling for work, a long trip to Europe and some wedding planning (K & I are engaged!). I neglected this little passion project of mine - but I am back and ready to share some delicious recipes!So now on to this soup...is anyone else obsessed with Nordstrom Cafe's Tomato Bisque?! Not only is Nordstrom my favorite department store, but their cafe is on my list of favorite comfort-food lunch spots. No matter what my lunch order is, I always have a cup of their Tomato Bisque. I hunted down their recipe and had to share it with you guys! Okay, okay, so there are carrots involved in this recipe (CARROTS in a TOMATO soup?!), but don’t flip out…the carrots add another layer of sweetness to simmered tomatoes, which make for an extremely flavorful soup. And what is Nordstrom’s tomato bisque without a garlicky, cheesy crostini (for dipping purposes, duh!).

January 25, 2015

A couple of weeks ago I hit a serious breakfast slump. The idea of scarfing down breakfast before I rushed out the door for work seemed very unappealing. I wanted something in the morning that would give me a great jolt of energy but would also subside my hunger. Enter: the tropical green smoothie. Not only do I make this green beauty every morning for breakfast, I save some to sip on as a healthy mid-afternoon snack as well. Apprehensive about the green? Don't fear: the flavor of spinach takes a back seat when combined with tropical fruits, such as pineapple and mango. All in all, this smoothie isn't just full of nutrients to help get you going in the morning, but is also deliciously refreshing.

November 8, 2014

Iknow it's November, and I really should be showcasing pumpkin-spiced, fall-inspired desserts. BUT, my mind has been on Banana Cream Pie. Why? After I watched Momofuku Milk Bar's Pastry Chef Christina Tosi whip up this Banana Cream Pie in the first season of Mind of a Chef, my mind would always circle back to this pie when thinking of desserts. I was intrigued when Tosi mentioned the importance of using "ripe" bananas—and she means as-dark-as-you-can-get bananas. With the bananas being so ripe, it seriously intensifies the banana flavor and gives the custard amazing depth. Now, let me forewarn you: this recipe is very lengthy and requires some patience. That being said, when you taste the fruits of your labor, the work will be justified with one bite of this rich, creamy and heavenly pie.

October 28, 2014

Lately, I've been all about the Moscow Mule. And because I'm not thew biggest vodka fan (but LOVE the ginger-beer and lime combo) I've been trying out various alcohols in place of it, like gin. But, when I found out a Dark & Stormy was basically a Moscow Mule with rum, I was immediately on board. This year for Halloween, I'm opting to forgo any crazy festivities and curl up to a scary movie with a downright delicious cocktail instead—and what cocktail more fitting than this "Evil Eye" Dark & Stormy?